Improvement in can-openers



J. MOWILLIAMS.- a

Gan-Opener.

No. 198,206. Patented Dec. 18,1877,

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JOHN MOWILLIAMS, OF PRAIRIE CITY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO E. B. TILDEN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAN-OPENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,206, dated December 18, 1877; application filed September 8, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MOWILLIAMS, of Prairie City, in the county of Jasper and State of Iowa, have invented an Improved Can- Opener, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a tool that is equally well adapted for cutting in straight or curved lines, as required, to alternately open square or round cans.

It consists in combining a traveling fulcrum having one'straight side and the other curved with a straight cutter and a curved cutter, and a suitable handle, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Figure l of the drawing is a perspective view, illustrating the construction of my improved can-opener. a is the fulcrum, having one straight side and one curved side. b is a perforated swell or ear on the top side and longitudinal center of the fulcrum a, used as a means of pivoting the fulcrum between two cutters attached to a handle. 0 is a curved cutting-blade, corresponding with and attached to the curved side of the fulcrum a. d is a straight cutting-blade attached to the straight side of the fulcrum. The top ends of the two blades are rigidly connected with a suitable handle, g, by means of rivets, a ferrule, or in any suitable way. h h represent enlargements on the end of the handle g, that serve as finger-rests in holding and operating the tool, and also. as cams to restrict the motion of the fulcrum a b, pivoted between the cutters 0 and d.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, illustrating the operation of my can-opener when used to make straight cuts along the straight sides of a ,square can. The curved side of the pivoted fulcrum is on the outside top edge of the can, and the curved cutter projects downward at the side of the can, and forms a guide for the traveling fulcrum, which slides on the top of the can. By vibrating the handle a shearing motion is imparted to the straight cutter that has penetrated the top of the can, and straight incisions can be readily and successively made to cut out squarely the top of the square can.

Fig. 3 shows the tool in a reversed position, as required to cut a circular opening out of the top of a round can.

I am aware that can openers have been made to cut straight incisions, and also circular incisions, but not, so far as I know, with one and the same tool; and my can-opener is adapted to cut a straight or a curved incision, at pleasure, by simply reversing the tool in the hand-a novel and advantageous improvement.

I claim as my invention As an improved article of manufacture, a can-opener composed of the pivoted fulcrum a b, the curved cutter c, the straight cutter d, and the handle 9 h, substantially as and for the purposes shown and described.

JOHN MCWILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

BYRON G. WARD, M. B. MCKEEVER. 

